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Wanindu Hasaranga of Sunrisers Hyderabad, a legspinner, has been ruled out of the IPL 2024 due to persistent heel injury in his left foot. Hasaranga had not yet been called up to the Sunrisers team, and BCCI had been notified by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) of his season-long absence.
Although a replacement for Hasaranga has not yet been confirmed, Sunrisers are reportedly keeping an eye out for one.
Hasaranaga was treated by SLC medical professionals, who felt that the pain in his left heel was caused by wear and tear of the musculoskeletal system. Hasaranaga last played during Sri Lanka’s limited-overs series in Bangladesh in March. It was intended that he will fly abroad for specialised counsel before receiving SLC’s approval to participate in the IPL. Hasaranga had sought advice from a professional in Dubai, according to Sunrisers head coach Daniel Vettori, who made the announcement of his withdrawal on Thursday.
At the December 2024 IPL auction, Sunrisers purchased Hasaranga for his base price of INR 1.5 crore (about $181,000 USD). At the 2022 IPL auction, Royal Challengers Bengaluru paid INR 10.75 crore for him, his former team. While he featured in just eight games in 2023, he claimed nine wickets with an economy of 8.9, after having an outstanding season in 2022 with 26 wickets at a 7.54 economy.
If he heals in time for the T20 World Cup, which begins in the USA and the Caribbean on June 1, Hasaranga will be a vital member of Sri Lanka’s team.
Hasaranga was barred from participating in Sri Lanka’s current Test match against Bangladesh earlier this month due to a breach of article 2.8 of the players’ code of conduct during the third One-Day International against Bangladesh, which resulted in eight demerit points. Had Hasaranga—who had recently retired from Test cricket before the ban—not been able to play in the red-ball contests, he would not have been able to see the opening games of the T20 World Cup.
SLC refuted reports, though, that Hasaranga’s comeback from retirement was a ruse to ensure he was fit for the T20 World Cup, noting that he had emailed them on March 16 expressing his wish to be selected for Test cricket going forward due to his increased level of fitness.